The raw-food diet centers most of its menus around fruits and vegetables. The idea is that when food is cooked, it loses much of its nutritional value. Therefore, by eating a raw-food diet, the body obtains optimum nutrition while eliminating the risk of toxins entering the body. For those who are considering following this lifestyle, consuming enough protein is often a concern.
History
The theory behind a raw diet is that when food is cooked to more than 116 degrees Fahrenheit, it loses healthful and powerful enzymes that nourish the body and assist with the absorption of food. The theory also states that cooking food changes its molecular structure, making it less beneficial to the body. The raw-food diet is a relatively low-protein diet. Its followers believe that if you eat plenty of fresh vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, you will get sufficient protein.
Enzymes
Some ask the question: "Doesn't the acidity in the stomach kill enzymes anyway?" According to enzyme nutritionist Viktorus Kulvinskas, the stomach deactivates the enzymes, but they reactivate when they enter the small intestine because of the more alkaline pH that is present in this phase of digestion.
Amino Acids
Supporters of the raw diet acknowledge that the human body needs nine amino acids. Animal meat contains all of these acids. Plants contain them, too, just not all in one source. A variety of live plants can give the body sufficient amounts of protein. Raw-diet supporters say that the body needs about 10 percent of its daily diet to be protein, and that this is easily achieved through eating fresh vegetables, fruits and legumes.
Protein Sources
Protein choices on a raw-food diet include raw nuts and seeds, such as almonds and sunflower seeds. Greens such as spinach, green-leaf lettuce and kale contain protein as well as other helpful nutrients. Fruit also contains proteins; examples include figs, avocados, coconuts and peaches.
Misconceptions
It is a common misconception that meat is completely restricted on a raw diet. Although many who follow the raw diet do not eat meat, it is not forbidden. One popular raw meat is sashimi, a Japanese preparation of raw fish. Other raw meats include free-range, grass-fed animals such as poultry, beef and lamb, as well as "certified humane" pork. Animals from this environment are less likely to carry harmful bacterial diseases such as salmonella.
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